Capital Comment When pols fall in love . . . The superlawyer who’s a softy . . . Match the earmark to the lawmaker . . . Where the good gossip is.

Where & When “Degas to Diebenkorn” at the Phillips . . . Hip-hop at Dance Place, flamenco at Lisner . . . Japan festival at the KenCen . . . Coen brothers at AFI.

Shifting Out of Neutral Making an apartment bright and fun. By Mary Clare Fleury.

What’s Ahead The coming years may look very different to today’s kids. Here are changes they could see.  Interview by Ellen Ryan. 

Tough Guy Jim Webb After a year in the Senate, the maverick former Marine has turned out to be more of a savvy operator than expected. By Paul West. 

Foreign Affairs Our nearly 200 embassies pump up the local economy and add lots of flavor to the city. China will soon open a big one. By Larry Van Dyne. 

Discovering Degas Taking knives, brushes, and paints boldly in hand to restore a masterpiece. By Harry Jaffe. 

29 Great Small Towns Pretty country spots, cool mountain retreats, waterfront treasures, lively college towns, and low-cost places on the rise.

Ultimate Guide to Pets How to care for your dog or cat: Here are 250 top veterinarians, alternative-medicine experts, kennels, dog walkers, groomers, and more.

Benefits Good times for good causes. By Maggie Wimsatt. 

Boys and Girls of Summer Whether kids are bound for stardom or are new to sports, one of the area’s camps may be their ticket to fun. By Sean Lishansky.

Say Cheese More people are enjoying cheese—at home and in restaurants. Here’s where to find the best cheeses available in Washington. By Robert Shoffner. 

Kindling Romance Escape winter’s chill at one of these five inns. Each offers romantic rooms with fireplaces. By Nancy Bauer Collier. 

Dining Out Nicaro bids to bring personal cooking to chain-heavy Silver Spring. Plus—Spezie in DC, a hotel restaurant in Arlington, a Peruvian cafe in Adams Morgan.

Best Bites Glamour sushi in Rockville . . . Hot chocolate . . . Bargain Valentine’s treats . . . Cozy French and hole-in-the-wall finds.

Match Game Wine and chocolate were made for Valentine’s Day—but not necessarily for each other. Here’s how to pair two of life’s sweetest pleasures. By Dave McIntyre. 

Great Finds Custom bras, panties with no lines, and other hot lingerie. By Cathy Alter. 

Favorite Day Spas Feeling stressed? Here’s a guide to quick fixes, facials and massages, painless waxing, spas that come to you, and the most expensive treatments in town. To use our online database of spa reviews, click here.

Safeway Modern A young couple updates a gem that once shared a look with grocery-store designs from the 1950s. By Michael Tardif.

Bargains at the Beach With the market cooling, vacation-home buyers may find sellers eager to deal. By Dana Schwartz.

Luxury Homes Redskin Mark Brunell buys for $3.7 million in Great Falls. DC schools chief Michelle Rhee and former Treasury head John Snow make deals.

Washingtonian Crossword Statuesque. By Matt Gaffney.

Back on Stage She was hailed as one of our best young playwrights. Then her career hit a bump. By Charlotte Sommers.

Cabbie’s Girl The next cab driver you meet could be like my dad—a man who came to America with dreams and whose family is proud of him. By Simran Chawla.